Same thoughts. The EV revolution is one step forward, one major step back. This hasn't started with EVs though. The frog was being boiled for the last 15 or so years with ICE cars. Like you said, repairing any modern car is a huge DRM minefield designed to milk the customer dry.
I had an old Fiat which was a delight to repair. You could tell everything was designed to be easily accessible for quick and easy repairs with basic tools or even tool-less. Air filters were just held in place with clips you can undo in 2 seconds and swap them yourself. Now I own a modern Fiat and the filters are bolted down with custom screws and even the user manual tells you to visit your dealer to ... replace your air filters. Sorry, but fuck off Fiat! That's the last time I'm giving you my money. I hope the EU fines your greedy ass for these deliberate anti consumer designs. Though I would expect Italy to veto any such moves.
It's no wonder that some of the most desirable second hand cars are the one build around the mid 2000's as they have enough electronics for safety and comfort while still not having enough planned obsolescence built in, being reliable and cheap and easy to repair.
Modern cars are becoming an expensive subscription service rather than something you own and it seems like the big German brands are leading the pack.
I bought a VW Golf several years ago. Sales guy showed off user-replacable zero-screws bulbs as a major improvement. Which was sort of true, since my previous card, Ford Focus, required unbolting and removing headlight to replace it's bulbs...
A major improvement would be LED headlights which have a MTBF that is so high that they can essentially last for the lifetime of the vehicle. Zero "bulb" replacements. (LED headlights exist BTW, and I'm sure there are VW Golf trim levels that include them nowadays)
The problem with LED headlights is they cost a fortune. And you can't have a standardised aftermarket replacement. Of course they're nice if nothing wrong happens. But with old cars, eventually it will fail. Meanwhile for classic lights, you can polish the glass, maybe reflector, put in new bulb and it will keep working forever.
Oh God - flashbacks to trying to replace a blown bulb in my Focus. "This will be easy". Two hours later and some bleeding knuckles later, took it to the garage for them to swear at.
I had an old Fiat which was a delight to repair. You could tell everything was designed to be easily accessible for quick and easy repairs with basic tools or even tool-less. Air filters were just held in place with clips you can undo in 2 seconds and swap them yourself. Now I own a modern Fiat and the filters are bolted down with custom screws and even the user manual tells you to visit your dealer to ... replace your air filters. Sorry, but fuck off Fiat! That's the last time I'm giving you my money. I hope the EU fines your greedy ass for these deliberate anti consumer designs. Though I would expect Italy to veto any such moves.
It's no wonder that some of the most desirable second hand cars are the one build around the mid 2000's as they have enough electronics for safety and comfort while still not having enough planned obsolescence built in, being reliable and cheap and easy to repair.
Modern cars are becoming an expensive subscription service rather than something you own and it seems like the big German brands are leading the pack.